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Friday, September 23, 2011

6 Common Myths About Book Reviews

Book reviews are a powerful promotional tool, but there are some misconceptions about how to obtain them. Here are some common myths about getting book reviews.

Myth #1 - Book reviews are just for new books.

It's true that book review journals read by librarians and booksellers review books at or soon after publication. It's best to focus your review efforts during the first year of a book's life, but some venues will review older books.

Myth #2 - No one will review a self-published book.

It is more challenging for self-published authors and small presses to get reviews in certain venues, but it's certainly not impossible. Self-published books are far more likely to be reviewed if they are produced to industry standards (well written, edited and designed). A number of book review websites welcome self-published books or even focus specifically on them, and there are several book journals like Midwest Book Review that are friendly to independent and small presses.

Myth #3 - Book reviews are just for books being sold to bookstores and libraries.

Trade journals like Publishers Weekly and Library Journal are designed to meet the needs of booksellers and librarians, so they focus on books that are available through major distributors and wholesalers at standard discounts. But there are plenty of other places to get book reviews, including book blogs, topical blogs, online bookstores, specialty publications, literary magazines, and reader networks.

Myth #4 - You can't get reviews for ebooks.

It takes some extra research to identify revenue venues that will review books that are available only in ebook format. Many reviewers accept only printed books, although that is slowly changing as the use of ebook readers becomes more widespread. There are several websites, such as Kindle Obsessed, that focus on ebooks.

Myth #5 - No one pays attention to the reviews in online bookstores.

I do believe that reviews (or lack of them) influence shoppers in online bookstores. In my book, How to Get Your Book Reviewed, I cite a study by the Yale School of Management that backs this up. With so many books to choose from, shoppers are often looking for some factor to help them decide between several books.

Having very few or no reviews on an Amazon sales page can give the impression that the book isn't very popular. Reviews can also give the shopper more insight into the book, beyond the product description.

Be sure to encourage customers and book reviewers to post their review or recommendation on Amazon.

Myth #6 – It's not worth the effort of pursing reviews.

Book reviews serve two basic purposes: they bring your book to the attention of people who might not have learned about it otherwise, and they help potential customers decide if your book is a good fit for them. The more reviews you have, and the more places those reviews appear, the greater your reach and your selling power.

All book marketing plans should include a strategy for maximizing the value of reviews, endorsements and testimonials.

Thanks for this post, it gives me renewed faith in book reviews - so many say its moot or a dead art...I think people read them and act because of them. Even a poor review is better than no review. Thanks again.Billie

We've just begun our book review journey but what I've found so far, at least pertaining to ebooks (in the Christian fiction genre), is that people seem to be more open to reviewing them because they can put the PDF on the Kindle. That is a huge selling point for the Kindle! So I've been fortunate to find willing reviewers at the first two I've contacted because of that point. Times are a changin, thank goodness! Thank you for your insight as always, Dana.

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Yvonne Perry

Teacher, Speaker, Author

About Yvonne Perry

Yvonne Perry is a metaphysical author, teacher, and speaker. A graduate of American Institute of Holistic Theology, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Metaphysics. She is the author of several spiritual books including Whose Stuff Is This?, designed to help highly sensitive people learn to manage intuitive and emotional energy.

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Books by Yvonne Perry

Light is the language of the creator. When spoken verbally, light language can create, bring a message, blessing, or healing as a response to a request a soul has made. Old thoughts, beliefs, and behavior patterns are housed in the subconscious and our DNA. Our DNA also holds light codes of the original Adam (perfect divine human). When activated, these codes can override and reprogram old beliefs and patterns that keep the body, mind, and emotions sick and in disrepair. Learn how light language can help activate these codes.

As the Earth is coming into alignment with the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, we are being affected by strong cosmic energy that is compelling us to change our way of thinking and living. Shifting into Purer Consciousness ~ Integrating Spiritual Transformation with the Human Experience is designed to help people personally manage the symptoms of the current shift in consciousness we are all experiencing as we approach the end of the Piscean Age and enter the Age of Aquarius.

Walk-ins Among Us ~ Open Your Personal Portal to Cosmic AwarenessIf you have had a strange spiritual experience, you will find comfort and information to help make sense of it in this eye-opening book, written by a walk-in to help others understand the soul exchange process and how to integrate higher vibrations that clear energy imprints that are not aligned with love, light, and joy.

Learn how to stay centered and actively involved in your personal ascension process as you discover your mission, purpose, and role on Earth.

Whose Stuff Is This? ~ Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those Around You

Are you super sensitive to the negativity around you? Are your coworkers like psychic vampires who leech off your energy? Do you have mysterious illnesses, aches, and pains? Are you depressed or angry for no good reason? Do some friends and family members make you feel drained? You may be an empath picking up on the thoughts, emotions, attitudes, and even the illnesses of others. Whose Stuff Is This? is a guidebook for empathic people who have been unknowingly carrying energetic burdens that belong to someone else.

More Than Meets The Eye ~ True Stories About Death, Dying, and Afterlife

More Than Meets the Eye: True Stories about Death, Dying and Afterlife is a book that address topics that many people are not comfortable talking about such as suicide, the near-death experience, end of life decisions, and euthanasia. The book is designed to help people release their fear of death, learn to communicate with those on the other side, and to comfort someone who is grieving the loss of a loved one.

Perry has authored twelve children’s stories known as The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children. These stories build self-esteem and empower young ones to follow their inner guidance and overcome fear. Inspired by her grandson, these stories offer valuable messages that support the whole child—body, soul and spirit—and teach environmental responsibility.

Stockpiled Poetry ~ Introspective Thoughts About Life, God, and Other Stuff That Can’t Be Explained!

Stockpiled Poetry is a bunch of plain style poems LavendarRose threw into the file drawer awaiting someone to appreciate them. If you like them, their day has come.

You will find a hodge-podge of themes and thoughts in this collection. From throwing pottery with the hippies in Missouri to poems about nature, religion, divorce, love, depression, relationships, the unfairness of life and other dark tales about living in the perfect world.

Yvonne's humorous book, Email Episodes ~ A Hilariously Honest Look at Life, is about a woman experiencing an identity crisis as she faces divorce and approaches mid-life with teenagers who are raising reptiles in the basement.

A great book of short entertaining stories, which also shares some of life's triumphs and troubles shared by all mothers of teenagers. Those going through divorce, leaving organized religion, or learning to live authentically will appreciate the candid humor.

The genealogy of the Bates family of Cherokee County, Georgia is traced back to Charlton Bates and Nancy Kelly (O'Kelly) Bates, who are first mentioned living in South Carolina in 1812. Through DNA testing, we know that our family has a ancestor blood-related to James Shockley Bates.

The descending lineage mentioned in this book are David Ward and Nancy Martin, Thomas F. Bates and Sarah Elizabeth Ward, Savannah Bates and Alexander Newton Smith, and Lemuel Harris Bates and Lillian Margaret Smith.

Many of the children and extended family members of these family heads are mentioned in this book, and more than 200 photos document the journey.

Of broader interest, the book contains some history of the Cherokee and Hall Counties of Georgia as remembered by the Bates family who lived in the area.

Books & Audio Stories for Empathic & Intuitive Children

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• Books receiving free reviews are written by Yvonne Perry and without monetary compensation to the reviewer.

• Books receiving reviews as part of our Publicity Packages include a monetary stipend for the reviewer in exchange for writing the review and assisting the author with book promotion. Books that we do not feel we can endorse with a raving or 5-star review are refused for review and then donated to charities, schools, or libraries.

• Links to Amazon.com are posted with reviews as a convenience for the potential reader to buy the book. In the event a potential reader buys the book by clicking through this site we get an average of 6% referral fee from Amazon.com.